F1 >>> NEWS
While intra-team harmony is something
of a goal for the bulk of the F1 season,
news of drivers jumping ship can drive
a wedge between two competitors who
have spent the bulk of the year singing
each other’s praises in the name of
good sportsmanship.
The latest division takes place at
Force India, where Paul di Resta was
less than complimentary about team-
mate Nico Hulkenberg’s imminent
departure for Sauber, a team that has
bested the Silverstone racers in the 2012
constructors’ battle thus far.
“I was surprised that Nico left this team,
to be fair, for an immediate competitor,” di
Resta said when the news of his team-
mate’s departure broke. “I don't see it as
being a step up, to be perfectly honest.
I see it as equal – if anything – status.
I think long term, where you see this
team’s going, I think it’s probably better.
“They’ve had a couple of remarkable
results – I’m not going to deny that – but
in terms of consistency we’ve got a lot.
Next year may be different, and I don’t
know the full reasons why Nico’s gone
there.”
It is worth remembering that di Resta
has not yet secured a drive for the 2013
season, despite having been mentioned
as a possible replacement for both Lewis
Hamilton at McLaren and Felipe Massa at
Ferrari. With no top tier seats available to
the Scottish driver, and options narrowing
by the day, questioning Hulkenberg’s
decision to move is simply good politics –
Force India have the two best remaining
seats on the grid.
Sauber have comprehensively beaten
Force India over the course of the 2012
season, and would have beaten them in
2011 had the development budget not
dried up early in the summer.
Di Resta’s comments about the relative
consistency of the two teams are entirely
accurate: Sauber saw nine retirements in
the first 16 races of the season, yet still
led Force India by 23 points going into
Abu Dhabi despite the Silverstone outfit’s
two retirements. The Swiss racers have
seen 14 points finishes, including two
podia, while Force India finished in the
points 17 times with two P4s their best
results.
But while there is a lot to be said for the
old maxim ‘to finish first, first you have to
finish’ – the adage applies wherever you
might be in the points – over the past two
years Sauber have shown themselves
to be a team capable of fighting at the
front, of gifting their drivers with a car that
gives them the opportunity to audition
for top tier seats, while Force India have
long struggled to be anything other than
consistent mid-field contenders.
DI RESTA SLAMS
HULKENBERG’S MOVE
5
GPWEEK.com // 5
GPWEEK.com //
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